Based on the Supreme Court’s interim order of August 11, the Finance Ministry has said that the Unique Identification Number (UID), or Aadhaar, should be used only for the distribution of foodgrains, kerosene and cooking gas.
It has also said that seeding of Aadhaar numbers into a database will be voluntary. As on July 31, over 89 crore Aadhaar numbers have been issued.
According to a Finance Ministry office memorandum, the apex court order was in consonance with the Justice Wadhwa Committee report that deliberated the issue of use of biometrics to curb diversion and ensure that stocks under PDS reach bona fide beneficiaries. The memo further said the Oil and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Ministries and all the public authorities concerned in States and Union Territories take prompt action accordingly.
It may be noted that the Supreme Court, in its order, had said neither obtaining nor production of the card should be a condition for obtaining any benefits otherwise due to citizens, other than the PDS scheme and cooking fuel.
Many seeded In another order, the Ministry said a large number of Aadhaar numbers have already been seeded. The Ministry clarified that wherever a beneficiary voluntarily gives the Aadhaar number, it may be seeded in the database. However, “the use of Aadhaar number for delivery of services/benefits will be strictly as per direction of the Supreme Court,” it added.